Managing VMware vStorage VMFS Datastores
How To View VMFS Datastore Information
How to view information about all VMFS datastores available by your ESXi host.
1. In the View list of Storage Views tab, select Show all Datastores. You can view information for each datastore, such as capacity and free space.
2. Click datstore1 to go to Datastores inventory view. Displayed is the Show All Virtual Machines report listing all virtual machines that exists on this datastore.
How To Change the Name of a VMFS Datastore
1. In inventory, right-click datastore1 and select Rename.
2. Type in the new name you would like for the datastore.
3. The new datastore name should appear in the inventory.
How To Create a VMFS Datastore
How to create a VMFS datastore on a LUN.
1. In Datastores inventory, right-click datacenter and select Add Datastore.
2. When prompted by Add Storage wizard, do the following:
a. Expand inventory hierarchy and click your ESXi host. Click Next. (Select Host)
b. Select Disk/LUN and click Next. (Storage Type)
c. Click your LUN ID. (Select Disk/LUN)
d. Review current disk layout. Click Next. (Current Disk Layout)
e. Enter in a datastore name. Click Next.
f. Leave the default Maximum file size.
g. Deselect Maximum Capacity check box and enter your desired LUN size if you want to decrease this VMFS datastore.
h. Click Next.
i. Click Finish when you are done.
3. Monitor progress in Recent Tasks pane. Wait for task to complete.
4. Your new VMFS datastore should appear in the datastore inventory.
How To Expand VMFS Datastore to Consume Unused Space on a LUN
How to increase the size of your VMFS datastore to fill up remaining space on the LUN.
1. Click Configuration tab and your ESXi host is displayed and selected.
2. Click Properties link in Datastore Details pane.
3. In Properties dialog box, click Increase.
4. When prompted by Increase Datastore Capacity wizard, do the following:
a. Select your LUN ID. This LUN should read Yes in the Expandable column. Click Next. (Extent Device)
b. Review current disk layout. Notice available free space on the LUN under Primary Partitions. Click Next. (Current Disk Layout)
c. Leave Maximum capacity check box selected and click Next. (Capacity)
d. Click Finish when you are done reviewing the information.
How to Remove a VMFS Datastore
1. Right-click the datastore you want to delete and select Delete.
2. Click Yes to confirm datastore deletion.
How to Extend a VMFS Datastore
How to create a single VMFS datastore and increase the size by adding an extent.
1. Select your datastore in the Datastore inventory.
2. Click Configurations tab.
3. In Datastore Details pane, click Properties link.
4. Click Increase on the Properties dialog box.
5. Do the following when prompted by the Increase Datastore Capacity wizard (field):
a. Select your LUN ID. (Extent Device)
b. Review current disk layout. (Current Disk Layout)
c. Leave the Maximum capacity check box selected. (Capacity)
d. Click Finish. (Ready to Complete)